A birthday gift...

It all began with Pearl, which I discovered in the early years of my youth. The hopeful yet poignant story of a poor fisherman... His desperate attempt to retrieve that great pearl to pay for his child's medical expenses... Money, hope, ambition, and the complexity of human nature—a profound journey.

Next, I encountered The Grapes of Wrath. That epic tale of migration earned its place in my memory as a masterpiece worthy of the Pulitzer Prize. Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, Tortilla Flat, The Long Valley, The Wayward Bus, Cannery Row... Each one thought-provoking, each one touching the human spirit deeply.

Steinbeck's words still echo in my mind: "Once you're used to a place, leaving is hard." He revealed himself as a writer who delved deep into the heart of the lands and people he lived among, with every line he penned.

Recently, I visited Salinas, John Steinbeck's birthplace. We set out from Monterey and stepped into the National Steinbeck Center. It all began with a film recounting Steinbeck's life and works. Then, we explored the center step by step to discover his world. We watched films adapted from his books, examined cars of the era, observed the clothing. Seeing Turkish editions in the souvenir section also brought me joy.

I placed a pin on Istanbul on a world map, then looked at a map showing the countries Steinbeck traveled. I took a souvenir coin from a vending machine and remembered that unforgettable sentence: "The sun was shining like gold, and the red earth flowered like fire." Under the golden sun shining in the sky, the vivid colors of those flowers came alive again in my mind.

As I thank my friends for this special birthday gift, I felt a sense of farewell as we left the Steinbeck Center. Yet still, hoping one day to reunite with Steinbeck and Salinas... Atilla CAN